Wire-stretcher.



W. B. WiLSON.

WIRE STRETCHER.

APPLICATION man MAY 16. 1914.

1,144,677 Patented June 29, 1915.

Witnesses Attorneys WILLIAM B. wrnsoator wnsr Hoursvrfm, ALABAMA.

' wrnn-srnnrcnne.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed may 16,1914. Serial No. 839,082.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. WILSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at West Huntsville, in the county of Madison and State of Alabama, have invented a new and useful Wire-Stretcher, of which the following is a specification.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is a wire stretcher.

The present invention aims to provide a novel means whereby the stretching chain will be held assembled with the stretcher and with the clamp.

It is within the scope of the invention to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present'invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear asthe description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made with-' in the scope of what is claimed without departin from the spirit of the invention.

In t e accompanying drawing :Figure 1 shows the invention in side elevation; Fig. 2 is a top plan of the stretcher; Fig. 3 is a sectional detail illustrating the inner face of one of the actuating levers; Fig. 4: is a top plan view illustrating a brace which may be employed in connection with the anchoring mechanism.

In carrying out the present invention there is provided a frame denoted generally by the numeral 1, the frame including a side plate 2 having an ofiset shoulder 3. Abutting against the offset shoulder 3 is a side plate 1, the side plate a being held against the shoulder 3 by means of bolts 5 or other securing elements adapted to a like end. In the ofi'set shoulder 3 is formed a vertical opening 6 through which passes slidably a support preferably taking the form of a rod 7 the frame 1 being held in place on the support or rod by means of a set screw 8, threaded into the side plate 2 and adapted to engage the support. The upper end of the rod 7 is connected in any desired manner with a flexible element 9 in the present instance shown in the form of a cable, although, obviously, the flexible element may be of any chosen form. The lower end of the flexible element 9 is con nected with a although if a is accessible, the peg 10 may be dispensed with. The supporting rod 7 preferably is driven into the ground, but if a rock, a stump or the like should be in the way, braces 11, one of which is shown in Fig. 4:, may be, assembled with the rod 7 and be held in place by means of set screws 12 or the like. These braces 11 are adapted to project to one side of the frame, and may be engaged with a fence post or any other fixed support, when conditions are such that the rod 7 cannot be driven into the ground. Owing to the fact that the supporting rod 7 is provided, it will be observed that the stretching operation may be carried out with the frame 1 located beyond the last post in the fence, it thus being possible to stretch the wire or fence fabric and staple the same to the last post in the fence line.

Extended transversely of the frame 1 and, journaled for rotation in the side plates 2 and 4: is a shaft 15, one end of which may be squared as indicated at 16 to receive a lever or crank 17. The other end of the shaft 15 may be rounded as indicated at 18 and secured to the rounded end of the shaft is a ratchet wheel 19 received in a recess 20 formed in a lever or crank 21. A pawl 22 is pivoted to'the lever or crank 21 and is adapted to cooperate with the ratchet wheel 19. One or both of the cranks may be employed, at the option of the user. When the crank 21 is employed, and when the crank 17 is removed, the shaft 15 may be operated by an oscillating motion of the crank 21, thus permitting the shaft to be rotated when the frame 1 sets so close to the ground peg10 driven into the ground,

Patented June 29, 1915..

tree, a fence post or the like that the crank cannot well make a complete cooperating to hold the wire taut, after the same has been stretched. Secured to the shaft 15 and located between the side plates 2 and 1 is a sprocket wheel 25 across the top of which is passed a sprocket chain 26. In order to hold the sprocket chain 26 in engagement with the sprocket wheel 25, a roller 27 may be employed, the roller being located, preferably, above the sprocket wheel 25 and being journaled terminally in the side plates 2 and 4.. One end 28 of the 42. Bolts 43 bind the frame 42 firmly onto the-clamp bars. Journaled for rotation in the frame 42 is a shaft 44 carrying a sprocket wheel 45 about which the loop 29 of the sprocket chain is passed.

It is to be observed that by loosening the bolts 43, the frame 42 may be shifted vertically on the clamp bars 33. It is to be observed that by loosening the set screw 8, the frame 1 may be raised or lowered along the rod 7, so as to operate at any desired distance from the ground. Rotary movement is imparted to the shaft through. the medium of one or both of the cranks 17 and 21. The sprocket chain 26 is reeled in by the action of the sprocket wheel and the free end 28 ofthe sprocket chain moves downwardly toward the ground, beneath the frame 1. The loop 29 in the sprocket chain gradually grows smaller as the fence fabric is tightened up,

the loop 29 in the sprocket chain moving around the sprocket wheel 45 which is journaled in the side bars 42.

It is to be observed that the diameter of the sprocket wheel 45 on the frame 42 is greater than the vertical distance between the bill of the hook and the top of the sprocket wheel 25 on the stretcher frame. Further, it is to be noted that the bill of the hook 30 extends upwardly. Owing to the diameter of the sprocket wheel 45, as above mentioned, the upper and lower runs of the chain 26. are maintained at an acute angle to each other, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Consequently, when the upper run of the chain 26 is tightened up,the lower run of theclamp v In testimony chain is held securely engaged with the bill of the hook 30. As the sprocket wheel 45 on v the clamp frame approaches the str etcher proper, the angle between the upper and lower runs of the chain is increased, and the upper run of the chain would be forced ofi the sprocket wheel 25 on the stretcher frame, but for the presence of the roller 27.

' Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is A wire stretcher embodying a frame; a sprocket wheel journaled on the frame; a hook mounted on the frame and having its bill upwardly disposed; a clamp comprising a sprocket wheel. located in a common plane with the hook and the sprocket wheel on the frame; a chain one link of which is engaged with the hook, the mouth of the hook being open to receive said link detachably; the chain being extended thence across the lower edge of the sprocket wheel on the clamp and across the upper edges of the sprocket wheels, and the diameter of the sprocket wheel on the clamp being greater than the vertical distance between the bill of the hook and the top of the sprocket wheel on the clamp whereby when the upper run of the chain is taut, the upper. and lower runs of the chain will stand at an acute angle, thus to hold the said link engaged with the hook; and a roller in the frame above the sprocket wheel of the frame and above the upper run of the chain, the roller serving to hold the upper run of the chain on the sprocket wheel of the frame when the sprocket wheel of the approaches the frame and increases the angle between the runs of the chain.

that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM B. 'WVILSQN.

Witnesses TURNER PETTY, MAY WEST. 

